Erik Truffaz: Bending New Corners (1999)

An odd reissue of sorts, Bending New Corners combines tracks off two of trumpeter Erik Truffaz's previous albums. It is unclear why Blue Note felt the need to repackage these tracks yet again; however, here they are and they are worth a listen. Containing tracks from the sessions that produced The Mask and its European version, The Dream, Bending New Corners is a groove-oriented work that draws heavily on late-'60s and early-'70s Miles Davis. To these ends, Truffaz is a forward-thinking improviser with a plangent tone and knack for writing funky, modal compositions. Adding to the hip quotient, rapper Nya guests on a few tracks, delivering a gruff, philosophical vibe that is more G. Love than G Unit. Recorded in 1999, the tracks seem more connected to the post-rock, jazz-rap movements of the '90s; in the post-2000 world they don't feel as cutting edge as Truffaz would probably like them to seem. ~ Matt Collar

Recording information: Studio Du Flon, Lausanne, Switzerland (04/03/1999-04/06/1999).

Personnel: Erik Truffaz (trumpet); Nya (vocals); Patrick Muller (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Marcello Giuliani (acoustic bass, electric bass); Marc Erbetta (drums, percussion).

Tracklist:
01. Sweet Mercy
02. Arroyo
03. More
04. Less
05. Siegfried
06. Bending New Corners
07. Betty
08. Minaret
09. Friendly Fire
10. And
Bending New Corners
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Ilhan Ersahin featuring Erik Truffaz: Istanbul Sessions (2010)

Istanbul Sessions is a unit consisting of 4 versatile musicians -- Ilhan Ersahin, Alp Ersonmez, Turgut Bekoglu and Izzet Kizil. Ilhan was born and raised in Sweden, his motherland, and since a long time now has been living in NYC where he founded Nublu, the club and record label. Having a Turkish father and always having strong ties to Istanbul and Turkey as a whole, Istanbul Sessions was conceived as a very organic project. The concept of the band is a combination of Ilhan's NYC/Nublu sound mixed with the sounds and spirits of young Istanbul. It’s a band that mixes Turkish scales, clubby beats and jazz improvisations. Their live sets are usually an experience in sounds, moods, and almost trance like vibes, all played live, almost as if they are dj's keeping the audience alert with beats, colors and songs weaving in and out until their set ends 1, 2 or 3 hours later. Alp is the bassplayer of Turkey's popstar Tarkan. Turgut is the drummer of Turkey's one and only diva Sezen Aksu and Izzet is a sought after percussionist heard on hundreds of Turkish released records already performed with very international names such as Bebel Gilberto, Natasha Atlas etc.– all very active in the Istanbul music scene. Ilhan, saxophonist/keyboards/composer is the founder of Nublu in NYC and the newly started Nublu Records. Ilhan has composed for Norah Jones, Bebel Gilberto, U-Roy and his other bands include Wax Poetic, Love Trio, I led 3 lives and Nublu Orchestra. A great way to hear fresh and new sounds from Istanbul with a different angle then is usually expected, here it is: Istanbul Sessions.

Tracklist:
01. Freedom
02. Bosphorus
03. Doors To Heaven
04. Thomas O'Malley
05. Sam I Am
06. Downtown Istanbul
07. Kefal
08. Les Ottomans
09. The Dark Tunnel Of Europe
10. Alley Cats
11. Our Theory
Istanbul Sessions
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Erik Truffaz: The Mask (2000)

The French have had a love affair with Miles Davis going back to his score for the 1957 film Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud. But French native and popular trumpeter-composer Eric Truffaz takes admiration to new levels on his U.S. debut, a compilation of tracks from his Blue Note France albums Out of a Dream, The Dawn, and Bending New Corners. Using familiar components of Miles's hotly debated 1970s sound (Agharta, Big Fun, On the Corner)--including muted trumpet, graceful figures, cerebral melodies, and atmospheric electric piano--Truffaz appears as a talented clone. But his music is redeemed by its very assimilation of Miles's style and elegance. Truffaz and his expressive quintet write evocative compositions rife with darkly gorgeous melodies, performed in a variety of contemporary styles. Quasi drum and bass fills "Bending New Corners" and "Betty"; whisper-funk imbues "The Dawn"; a springy groove straight from Sorcerer supports the elastic "Arroyo"; free-form noodling fills "Less"; and drum and bass noodling fills "More." Truffaz plays sumptuously on the eerie ballads "Wet in Paris" and "And." Many American acts sound flat and stiff when attempting this Milesian hipster style, but Truffaz and Co. pull it off with deft twirls. --Ken Micallef

Tracklist

01. Sweet Mercy (2:07)

02. Arroyo (6:26)
03. More (6:10)
04. Less (3:55)
05. No Choice (7:09)
06. Mask (4:15)
07. Dawn (5:45)
08. Betty (4:14)
09. Bending New Corners (8:10)
10. Minaret (5:57)
11. And (10:13)
Mask
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